USA Trade Online provides import and export statistics to and from the U.S. Measurements cover the value and quantities of traded commodities by Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HS) codes, trading partners, and customs ports. HS codes are an international method of classifying related industries and products by either 2, 4, 6, or 10 digits, 2 being the broadest category and 10 the most specific. For example:

• 49 Represents printed books, newspapers, and manuscripts.
• 4901 Represents books, brochures, and similar printed matter
• 490191 Represents dictionaries, encyclopedias and serial.
• 4901910020 Represents dictionaries, including thesauruses

A user guide is available. Consult "USA Trade Online" Introduction: Getting Started for a video walkthrough.

Two sources of background information include the Guide to Foreign Trade Statistics, a comprehensive introduction prepared by the Census Bureau.

• Annual import and export data for the most recent completed 2 years.
• Annual import and export date for the most recent completed 4 years.
• Annual import and export data for the most current 10 years.
• Monthly import and export data cumulative from January through the most recent month for the current year and the most recent completed year.
• Monthly import and export data for the most recent 2 months.

Consult the UB Libraries Catalog for access to printed reports. Information is on CD-ROM since 1991.